Is it worth going for a monolithic setup?

[SuperSneakySniper]

Heyo guys, welcome back to the old hide!.... Well... It's actually the "new" hide for me because I was introduced to Snipershide during the "scout" days.

Anyways, I'm new to semi-auto precision builds, but not new to ARs. I currently have a billet receiver set that I was going to turn into a "precision build", but then I started reading about the (theoretical?) benefits of a monolithic upper... Is it really that noticeable of a difference in terms of accuracy?

I understand that off-the-bench accuracy won't be affected much if any, but when I use the forearm to brace up against barricades of different sizes or shoot with odd pressure on slings etc... Will I wish I had gone with a monolithic upper? Or does the pressure put on a standard forend not do anything to the barrel POI?

 

[GH41]

Think about what you are asking. How can a force applied to a properly floated conventional hand guard cause the receiver to flex any more or less than a monolithic one?

 

[Early Cuyler]

I think it is just in the noise and you won't be able to shoot the difference to see it on paper. Look at the JP and GAP ARs- very well known for excellent accuracy and neither provides a true monolithic upper. I believe the GAPs (and maybe the JP too) have been used in PRS events which put all sorts of pressure on the handguards/rails/etc.

It's probably the difference between an integral scope rail vs. bolt on with bolt actions. The integral/monolithic is theoretically stiffer and should help accuracy but I sure as hell will never be able to squeeze out that extra 0.01moa (or whatever the effect is).

 

[bogeybrown]

If yours is an otherwise quality setup then a true mono would onlyreally make one potential difference: whether you can effectively mount a scope with proper eye relief on the upper without having to span over to the handguard. Easily fixed with a cantilever mount if necessary.
As mentioned, the majority of precision ARs aren't using a true mono and they shoot great.

 

[Wyzrd]

If yours is an otherwise quality setup then a true mono would onlyreally make one potential difference: whether you can effectively mount a scope with proper eye relief on the upper without having to span over to the handguard. Easily fixed with a cantilever mount if necessary.
As mentioned, the majority of precision ARs aren't using a true mono and they shoot great.

This right here. I think as long as you use decent components in your build, the barrel/matching bolt, and the trigger being the most important (and where I would plop down the most $ for), you should be GTG even without a true monolithic set up...

 

[fili.herrera]

OP if you want a monolithic set up, hit me up...I've had both and honestly the difference is probably not discernable by most and definitely not by me.

 

[lennyo3034]

I am using a KAC URX4 on SI Defense (now falkor) matched receivers. I consider it a quality setup. My tripod zero is .3 mils off from prone with bipod. I do not get this shift with other rifles.

If a monolithic upper will correct this (and I'm not sure it will as it may be shooter induced) then it would be worth it to me. If I sling up NRA style then my zero shifts .2 mils. This is the case for all my rifles.

 

[saryan]

There are things that matter. Like making sure the upper's face is trued. If you look at some of the most consistently accurate AR's out there the are not monolithic. Now I would go with a "monolithic" like Mega for the weight and design but a true one piece doesn't matter much to me. I'm more interested in weight savings and function. Good luck!

 

[zach1020]

I have both styles and can not distinguish any difference between the two with myself behind the gun knowing both probably shoot better than I do anyways

 

[t-payne]

Think about what you are asking. How can a force applied to a properly floated conventional hand guard cause the receiver to flex any more or less than a monolithic one?

Because all of the pressure from that long lever (the handguard) is placed directly onto the thin walls of the reciever which is holding the barrel. If you think about it, how could it not change the point of impact? I've had it happen and can reproduce it so I know its real.

 

[VKC]

I have both monolithic and non semiautos. Once zeroed, if the components are similar quality, I noted no difference in accuracy.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

I was looking at monolithic receivers for a while - but my non monolithic JP rifle shoots so well, I don't know that there would any gain the way I shoot with it currently.

The problem I was exploring previously was I was trying to mount a front sight on the hand guard and keep it in line with the rear sight. Any shift would induce a problem, and in the end I decided to try to keep anything mounted to the barrel to avoid the situation. Not sure how guys handle that with offset irons as backup sights? Using a sling puts a lot of pressure on the handguard, as would barricades etc, and if your sight is attached to the hand guard, would cause a shift.

I think the above is why a move towards dot sights is good, or keeping an iron sight attached to the free floated barrel instead.

 

[just browsing]

My SPR built on Del-Ton receivers is more accurate that my Mega 6.5 Creed ever was. Monolithic designs are nice no doubt, but I don't believe that it's anything more than a marketing ploy to justify charging a higher price for those products...

In my experience with building ARs, a quality barrel, properly matched bolt & carrier group, and a good trigger are really the only essential components needed for good accuracy. The rest of it comes down to the shooter.

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

Thank you guys for the replies. I don't have any doubt that there is no accuracy difference under standard circumstances, I was just concerned about things like... When you load up a bipod, or press into a barricade or otherwise put "more-than-usual" pressure on the forend. Then I feel things might change. But I could be wrong. While the accuracy potential is the same, some replies did mention POI shift when changing pressure on the front of a non-monolithic.

I suppose the manufacturer and design of the forend could also be a variable here

 

[Mac679]

I'd say that the biggest benefit to a monolithic upper is in a situation most shooters won't have to deal with and that's running a tertiary sighting system like a PEQ15 where rail flex may result in the laser being on target and the barrel pointed elsewhere. More an issue with carbines than precision rifles IMO.
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